Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 42087 — Wickliffe, KY

ZIP code 42087 (Wickliffe, Ballard County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 42087 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 6
First frostOct 30
2012 zone7a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Wickliffe, KY…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Wickliffe, KY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 18
Growing season204 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 23 and returns around November 7.

From the NOAA station Bardwell 2 E, KY — 6 miles away, elevation 410 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 42087

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 6) and first fall frost (Oct 30) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 42087 came on Feb 26 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 4).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 7a in Kentucky

547 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Kentucky, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 78

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 109

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 181

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °F

Grasses 153

autumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fblister sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbluejoint5 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Vines 14

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Wickliffe, KY.

Soil in Wickliffe, KY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 42087 is Feliciana — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Feliciana silt loam, 12 to 20 percent slopes, severely eroded.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 42087; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wickliffe, KY

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days48days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights88nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,528base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 42 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 37 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation51.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 27 °F 45°27° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 29 °F 49°29° FebMarch: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 58 °F 83°58° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 36 °F 58°36° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 FebMarch: 5.76 in precipitation 5.8 MarApril: 5.50 in precipitation 5.5 AprMay: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 AugSeptember: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 NovDecember: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bardwell 2 E, KY (6 mi away); precipitation: Kevil 4.6 Nw, KY (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

420237a
Bardwell, KY · 7 mi
420247a
Barlow, KY · 8 mi
420607a
Lovelaceville, KY · 9 mi
420567a
La Center, KY · 9 mi
420357a
Cunningham, KY · 10 mi
420217a
Arlington, KY · 12 mi
420537a
Kevil, KY · 12 mi
420227a
Bandana, KY · 12 mi

Kentucky planting zones →

Questions about 42087

What planting zone is ZIP code 42087?

ZIP code 42087 (Wickliffe, KY) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Wickliffe, KY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 42087 is April 6; after April 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bardwell 2 E station.

When is the first frost in Wickliffe, KY?

The median first fall frost near 42087 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 204 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 42087?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 9 – Feb 23 and set transplants outside around Apr 13 – Apr 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 42087 get?

About 51.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kevil 4.6 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Wickliffe, KY?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 48 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 42087 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Feliciana at the center of ZIP 42087: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.1 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Wickliffe, KY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 42087 came on Feb 26 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Wickliffe, KY?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 42087 is 14 h 42 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.